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Post by bearbryant on Feb 1, 2019 14:55:09 GMT -6
Rockies in on Machado according to reports. |
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Post by Saint on Feb 1, 2019 15:01:28 GMT -6
Wow, Matt Davidson only gets a minor league deal with the Rangers. 103 OPS+ 20 HRs and can play 1B or 3B. Apparently they're also thinking of using some as a reliever if necessary. Ohtani has started a trend here.
So if a corner IFer with respectable power and at least some pitching potential can only get a minor league deal, Gattis may not have a job in the MLB any longer. I hope his agent is talking to Korean and Japanese teams...
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Post by nathangarza29 on Feb 1, 2019 15:03:41 GMT -6
Rockies in on Machado according to reports. BREAKING: According to my #sources, I am told that the Cardinals are close to (& finalizing), a contract extension agreement with 1B Paul Goldschmidt. It is perceived to be worth approximately $139 million/5 yrs. There are multiple incentives and a no trade agreement. #STLCards |
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Post by bearbryant on Feb 1, 2019 15:06:39 GMT -6
This is addictive .. thanks nathan BREAKING: According to my #sources, I am told that the Cardinals are close to (& finalizing), a contract extension agreement with 1B Paul Goldschmidt. It is perceived to be worth approximately $139 million/5 yrs. There are multiple incentives and a no trade agreement. #STLCards |
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Post by Saint on Feb 1, 2019 15:11:00 GMT -6
That seems like a reasonable deal for both sides if it's true. Especially if it's front-loaded.
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Post by nathangarza29 on Feb 1, 2019 15:11:27 GMT -6
BREAKING: According to my #sources, I am told that the Cardinals are close to (& finalizing), a contract extension agreement with 1B Paul Goldschmidt. It is perceived to be worth approximately $139 million/5 yrs. There are multiple incentives and a no trade agreement. #STLCards I get that but sourcing it for the ones who kept saying he wouldnt resign there. And he would come to Houston. St louis keeps you if they really want you. |
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Post by Saint on Feb 1, 2019 15:15:16 GMT -6
I get that but sourcing it for the ones who kept saying he wouldnt resign there. And he would come to Houston. St louis keeps you if they really want you. Who said he wouldn't re-sign here? It was more, should the Astros TRY to re-sign him if they had obtained him, given all of our other players that will need/deserve high dollar extensions. You have these positions to extend or re-sign already: CF SS 3B SP or 1B Which seems more necessary? Granted, if Correa doesn't bounce back you likely wouldn't extend him, but the rest of Bregman, Springer, Cole and/or Verlander all should be tried to be extended or re-signed. |
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Post by bearbryant on Feb 1, 2019 15:27:21 GMT -6
I get that but sourcing it for the ones who kept saying he wouldnt resign there. And he would come to Houston. St louis keeps you if they really want you. |
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Post by astrosdoug on Feb 1, 2019 15:31:46 GMT -6
In one of the Fangraphs or mlbtr chats this week someone asked about Gattis, and the response was, basically, he will be hard-pressed to find interest from a MLB club.
I'd rather he doesn't just retire or take a minor league deal and go the way of Chris Carter.
He should play in Asia for a year or two, hopefully for a team that lets him catch, and try to build up his MLB value as a backup C with a plus bat.
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marshall
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Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...
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Post by marshall on Feb 1, 2019 15:35:04 GMT -6
I'd rather win the World Series in three of the next five years than win the Hot Stove season in 2019 by throwing away talent either directly in trades or by tying up resources and doing it indirectly.
We have a chance to be a Dynasty. Let's not blow it by going all in for minor improvements this season only.
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Post by Saint on Feb 1, 2019 15:36:08 GMT -6
The lesson for young kids playing baseball: Power is great, but make sure you have plate discipline and can play real defense somewhere.
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Post by Saint on Feb 1, 2019 15:39:20 GMT -6
I still hope Gattis gets signed somewhere. There has to be value for a guy that averages 20+ HR 60+ RBI a 100+ OPS+ and can play adequate C or LF if necessary.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Feb 1, 2019 15:50:29 GMT -6
Reddick's main virtues are that he has a good throwing arm and is a decent base stealer. However the offense can ill afford another .720ish OPS season from him and I haven't seen any reason for optimism that he will turn things around. Have we really gotten to the point, as fans, where we believe every single player on the team has to have a .900 OPS in order for the team to excel? |
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Post by astrosdoug on Feb 1, 2019 15:56:27 GMT -6
I still hope Gattis gets signed somewhere. There has to be value for a guy that averages 20+ HR 60+ RBI a 100+ OPS+ and can play adequate C or LF if necessary. There are a few teams Gattis might improve as a backup C... The Rangers are using Kiner-Falefa for that purpose but Gattis would probably hit better. However I hate to see former Astros go to Arlington. The Phillies might prefer Gattis at C to Andrew Knapp. Maybe some of the PA fans here could say if that makes any sense from a Phillies perspective. The Tigers are planning to use Bobby Wilson, but he projects to hit for only a .600 OPS. Gattis would give them some extra thump and that probably outweighs the extra passed balls he would allow. |
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marshall
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Post by marshall on Feb 1, 2019 15:58:08 GMT -6
Reddick's main virtues are that he has a good throwing arm and is a decent base stealer. However the offense can ill afford another .720ish OPS season from him and I haven't seen any reason for optimism that he will turn things around. Have we really gotten to the point, as fans, where we believe every single player on the team has to have a .900 OPS in order for the team to excel? Yes.
It might not be realistic, but certainly expected.
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Post by astrosdoug on Feb 1, 2019 16:08:04 GMT -6
It's a good thing if the team is at a point where it has the resources to construct a roster of (nearly) all hitters with an OPS of .750 or higher. Championship teams have to set extremely high standards for themselves in order to win rings.
If the Astros' goal were only to make an appearance in the postseason and bow out in the ALDS, then sure, they could set the bar lower and tolerate having a few guys in the .600 to .720 range.
It's not realistic to expect catchers to stay above .750, though if you are lucky and have a Realmuto or Posey type of talent, great.
But for outfielders like Reddick and Marisnick, they really ought to be hitting at least .780. Maybe Josh can do it... he just seems to have a way of running into spider webs at weird times though.
Having a rock-solid lineup would help little Tucker, too, because pitchers would take more chances over the plate with him. The sooner little Tuck gets on a roll, the better for the Astros Dyansty.
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Post by Saint on Feb 1, 2019 16:08:14 GMT -6
Reddick had a horrible August last year. If he just maintained a 100 OPS+ for that month alone, his overall season percentages would have been a little above-average to go along with his solid defense and baserunning. I really don't think Reddick is a concern. I expect him to have a season somewhere between 2017 and 2018, which would be a fine season. Worth $13 million? Maybe not, but not bad considering.
I really don't think we should be doing anything further for the OF. We have three solid to great veterans (two of which are all-star caliber if healthy), a top prospect, a top defensive replacement, and a lefty bat who had a productive season as a roleplayer. Plus, Diaz can play LF if necessary as well.
The only position we could significantly upgrade would be C, but at what cost of prospects? Not worth it. If you could get somebody like Castellanos for a steal, so be it I guess, but you'd be giving up on White unless there was an injury to Cast or Gurriel. Is Cast a significant upgrade over White? One costs us practically nothing and the other would cost at least a couple prospects, and I'm not sure that White wouldn't be just as good. In fact, for their careers, White tops him in OPS+ 113 to 111 and has shown potential for more.
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Post by bearbryant on Feb 1, 2019 16:14:35 GMT -6
Have we really gotten to the point, as fans, where we believe every single player on the team has to have a .900 OPS in order for the team to excel? Yes.
It might not be realistic, but certainly expected.
Yuli's the guy who's redundant, but his contract was structured so his salary decreases toward his walk year
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Post by astrosdoug on Feb 1, 2019 16:35:29 GMT -6
Batter handedness is one factor, but a factor of even more concern in last year's offense was the Astros' struggles against RHP.
Contrary to many fans' first impression, the 2018 Astros were much better against LHP than against RHP.
Last year's Astros only had 5 batters who excelled against RHP (Bregman, Altuve, White, Kemp, Springer). A championship team really needs 7 or 8 of its players to excel against RHP considering ~70% of all pitching a team sees is from righties.
The hitters who most dragged down the offense against RHP were:
Maldonado (.549 OPS)
McCann (.651)
Marisnick (.655)
Reddick (.669)
Gurriel (.693)
Now, Chirinos should help improve the production vs RHP that we see from the C position.
And Gurriel ought to do better now that his hand is healed.
That leaves Marisnick and Reddick as the two main weaknesses to be addressed. I'd much rather have a guy like Hunter Renfroe (~.800 OPS vs both RHP and LHP and who plays a decent RF) at the plate against righties when such players are available and it's possible to move Reddick/Marisnick through trade.
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Post by bearbryant on Feb 1, 2019 16:44:44 GMT -6
It's still not likely you're going to see Gurriel pinch-hit against a RHP if he and Josh are bench bats when the opportunity comes. Just the way managers play it
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Post by unionstation82 on Feb 1, 2019 16:45:27 GMT -6
I still hope Gattis gets signed somewhere. There has to be value for a guy that averages 20+ HR 60+ RBI a 100+ OPS+ and can play adequate C or LF if necessary. Maybe if he wouldn’t flail and hop so often or have the ability to go after strikes, there’d be more demand for him. |
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Post by bearbryant on Feb 1, 2019 17:43:58 GMT -6
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Post by astrosdoug on Feb 1, 2019 18:03:59 GMT -6
These are some of the hypothetical Realmuto packages I've seen tossed around by fans. I have no idea if these packages are close to what Luhnow has actually offered.
Would anyone here say no to giving up these players?
1) Alvarez, Stassi, Kemp, Deetz
2) Alvarez, Stassi, Armenteros, Fisher
3) Bukauskas, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Stubbs, Sneed
4) Alvarez, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Abreu, Nova
I'd be OK with packages 3 and 4, so long as the Perez in question is Joe, not Cionel.
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Post by paastrosfan on Feb 1, 2019 18:13:54 GMT -6
Thanks for the interesting article, didn't know about the connection. I guess his signing shouldn't be a surprise. |
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marshall
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Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...
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Post by marshall on Feb 1, 2019 19:30:38 GMT -6
These are some of the hypothetical Realmuto packages I've seen tossed around by fans. I have no idea if these packages are close to what Luhnow has actually offered. Would anyone here say no to giving up these players? 1) Alvarez, Stassi, Kemp, Deetz 2) Alvarez, Stassi, Armenteros, Fisher 3) Bukauskas, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Stubbs, Sneed 4) Alvarez, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Abreu, Nova I'd be OK with packages 3 and 4, so long as the Perez in question is Joe, not Cionel. These are packages I consider reasonable for two years of Realmuto if they hurry up and do the deal. The price I'd be willing to pay goes down daily. But i'm also OK with Keeping these prospects. I suppose that makes it a fair trade. |
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marshall
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Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...
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Post by marshall on Feb 1, 2019 20:00:10 GMT -6
These are some of the hypothetical Realmuto packages I've seen tossed around by fans. I have no idea if these packages are close to what Luhnow has actually offered. Would anyone here say no to giving up these players? 1) Alvarez, Stassi, Kemp, Deetz 2) Alvarez, Stassi, Armenteros, Fisher 3) Bukauskas, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Stubbs, Sneed 4) Alvarez, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Abreu, Nova I'd be OK with packages 3 and 4, so long as the Perez in question is Joe, not Cionel. I wonder if we'd consider a 35 year old Chirinos in a return package preferable to a 28 year old Stassi? Just because he's recently acquired, it doesn't mean he's not a chip. |
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Post by abregmanfan on Feb 1, 2019 20:45:08 GMT -6
These are some of the hypothetical Realmuto packages I've seen tossed around by fans. I have no idea if these packages are close to what Luhnow has actually offered. Would anyone here say no to giving up these players? 1) Alvarez, Stassi, Kemp, Deetz 2) Alvarez, Stassi, Armenteros, Fisher 3) Bukauskas, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Stubbs, Sneed 4) Alvarez, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Abreu, Nova I'd be OK with packages 3 and 4, so long as the Perez in question is Joe, not Cionel. All too much. I am a huge Bukauskas fan. |
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Post by paastrosfan on Feb 1, 2019 20:50:27 GMT -6
These are some of the hypothetical Realmuto packages I've seen tossed around by fans. I have no idea if these packages are close to what Luhnow has actually offered. Would anyone here say no to giving up these players? 1) Alvarez, Stassi, Kemp, Deetz 2) Alvarez, Stassi, Armenteros, Fisher 3) Bukauskas, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Stubbs, Sneed 4) Alvarez, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Abreu, Nova I'd be OK with packages 3 and 4, so long as the Perez in question is Joe, not Cionel. Jeter ripped their mlb roster apart last season and traded it away. What is left of their fan base, they will want someone in the trade at least mlb ready. I should also mentioned a player that would be more than the ones that have already have had playing time in the show on the list. |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Feb 1, 2019 21:04:23 GMT -6
These are some of the hypothetical Realmuto packages I've seen tossed around by fans. I have no idea if these packages are close to what Luhnow has actually offered. Would anyone here say no to giving up these players? 1) Alvarez, Stassi, Kemp, Deetz 2) Alvarez, Stassi, Armenteros, Fisher 3) Bukauskas, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Stubbs, Sneed 4) Alvarez, Perez (Joe or Cionel), Abreu, Nova I'd be OK with packages 3 and 4, so long as the Perez in question is Joe, not Cionel. All too much. I am a huge Bukauskas fan. I'm beginning to think you don't like JT Realmuto  |
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Post by m240 on Feb 1, 2019 21:11:32 GMT -6
It's February now and not much more time to go before spring training. Every year teams go to spring training thinking that their roster has certain positions set and then what happens, boom, there you go you have an injury. It is what concerns me about the pitching staff and it is what concerns me about our outfield. We signed a guy who is pretty damn good, at least when he is healthy and we plan on playing him in left field. We have a guy in center field that is pretty damn good and we plan on him having a bit of a bounce back year. And we have two guys for right field, one a guy we are paying 13 million dollars to and the other a rookie who has a ton of potential but has done nothing in the minor leagues. So what do you do, you play the rookie a lot in spring training hope like hell that he rips it up and then you trade the guy you are paying 13 million dollars to someone who lost their guy to injury and think that they need that one extra bat. If nothing develops before the season starts the rookie goes down and somewhere along the way you find a way to dump the weak hitting guy you are paying 13 million. Or perhaps one of our guys goes down and instead of trading the 13 million dollar guy you just bring up the rookie and keep on trucking.
So really at this point we are picking at nits. I hope we get another reliever, I would really like to get Castellanos but he is really just a luxury at this point, and given our payroll we need to keep our powder dry for the trade deadline and then pull the trigger on what we need for the final push. Man I wish it was March 1 versus Feb 1.
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